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No brake warning light

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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 05:51 PM
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Default No brake warning light

Went for the second drive of the season today and noticed the brake light doesn't come on when I apply the parking brake. Does any one know how hard it is to access the bulb and or what number it is? Its a '77!

Last edited by BPHORSEGUY; Apr 3, 2011 at 07:05 PM.
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 08:20 PM
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It's a little bit more difficult than changing the bulbs on the speedo...cause it is at the top. The bulb is a #1895.
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
It's a little bit more difficult than changing the bulbs on the speedo...cause it is at the top. The bulb is a #1895.
Can you access it from under the panel or do you have to remove the tach?
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 09:10 PM
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Default Before you take the dash apart...

Are you sure the bulb is bad? You can pull the wire off the distribution block and ground it to be sure. (grounding that wire also makes the same bulb light)The problem may be the parking brake switch.
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 10:22 PM
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That would be a good first step. If the bulb doesn't light up, it's probably the bulb. Yes, you can reach it from underneath; but you need to be 'small', have a small child with good hand-eye coordination, or hire a midget to reach it.

Seriously, if you have to do it yourself, it's probably easier to remove the driver's seat first.

And, P-L-E-A-S-E, disconnect the battery first.
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Old Apr 3, 2011 | 11:34 PM
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Default Brake warning Light

Originally Posted by BPHORSEGUY
Went for the second drive of the season today and noticed the brake light doesn't come on when I apply the parking brake. Does any one know how hard it is to access the bulb and or what number it is? Its a '77!
Hi BPHORSEGUY,

I also agree with Petes74ttop.

I have a 1970 but might work the same. Take the single wire off of the Brake line distribution block under the alternator. Take a jumper and ground this wire to the frame. I believe the Key has to be in the on position. If the bulb is good the Brake warning light will come on. If the bulb Lights up go to the hand brake switch. Either place will turn the light on.

Ron

Last edited by Rontech; Apr 3, 2011 at 11:45 PM.
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Old Apr 4, 2011 | 09:15 PM
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Thanks guys!
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 02:27 PM
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Okay, I'm having the same problem. Mine is an 82. The bulb is a known good bulb, but I get no light at start up, no light when I pull the e brake handle. As stated, the bulb was tested and found good and I tried a few different bulbs, all known good, in the same slot. The printed circuit is not ripped or cut. Where do I look next?

Last edited by Drawmain; Jun 20, 2011 at 02:28 PM. Reason: added info
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Drawmain
Okay, I'm having the same problem. Mine is an 82. The bulb is a known good bulb, but I get no light at start up, no light when I pull the e brake handle. As stated, the bulb was tested and found good and I tried a few different bulbs, all known good, in the same slot. The printed circuit is not ripped or cut. Where do I look next?
Just because the circuit is not ripped or cut doesn't mean that it is not possibly bad. They can de-laminate and give you issues. The one in my 80 looked pretty good to the eye but when I took a meter to it, there was a dead trace. A new printed circuit board fixed all sorts of issues, from no blinker indicators to the buzzing choke light that had eluded my fix for a few years.
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 10:06 PM
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My original problem was a stuck parking brake switch not the bulb. I saw it flicker once so I knew it wasn't the bulb. I parked the car w/ the e-brake on and gradually it began working. It must have stuck while being parked all winter w/ the e-brake off!
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 10:21 PM
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Thanks for the replies, now I have a place to start looking
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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 05:38 PM
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Okay, so I go out to drive the Vette today, and the brake light works now. I didn't do anything more after I posted either, it just decided to work, lol. Thanks for all the help!
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